Kabul municipality to have radio, TV station next year: Mayor

KABUL (PAN): The Kabul municipality plans to establish a radio and television station next year, the mayor said on Monday, but some experts believe the municipality should air its programmes through the state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA).

"We are planning to launch an exclusive radio and television station of the municipality next year," Mohammd Yunus Mawandesh, the Kabul mayor, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said most Kabul citizens do not cooperate with the municipality in efforts at keeping the capital city clean and the proposed station is aimed at creating awareness among people to play their part in cleanliness weeks.

"We will air such programmes which may inspire people into participating in the municipality cleanliness campaigns and create a sense of responsibility among Kabul dwellers toward keeping the city clean," the mayor said, without providing further details about the station.

The Kabul municipality currently issues a newspaper which hits the market twice a week.

The newspaper's deputy head, Syed Madsud Hofyani, said the municipality was currently estimating the cost of the proposed radio and television station, therefore he would not provide further details.

Writer and journalist, Ahad Zia Bomya, said the media could play a significant role in motivating people to take part in cleanliness efforts. However, he said the municipality should take advantage of the RTA and other established media outlets which have viewers and listeners in every part of the country. "The proposed station of the municipality may not find a large number of viewers and listeners," he said.

He said establishing a TV station required a huge amount of money and the municipality should use its funds to improve its performance.

A teacher at the journalism faculty of Kabul University, Zabihullah Haider, also said the municipality should air its programmes through national television instead of investing in a new project.